Music-leaf turner.



No. 728,951. PATENTBD MAY 26, 1903.

J. G. MEZIERE.

MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16. 1902.

, N0 MODEL.

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NITED STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

JOHN GERMAN MEZIERE, OF OAMPTI, LOUISIANA.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,951, dated May 26, 1903.

Application filed June 16, 1902. Serial No. 111,966. (No model.)

To aZZ wit/0771 it may concern.-

Beit known that LJOHN GERMAN MEZIERE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Campti, in the parish of Natchitoches and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Music-Leaf Turner, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to m usic-leaf turners.

The object of the invention is to provide a music leaf turner the turning elements of which shall be capable of adjustment to in usicleaves of any size and which shall combine simplicity of construction, high efficiency and durability in use, and readiness in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of the music-leaf turner, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in elevation of a music-leaf turner characterized by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view of the locking mechanism for holding the leaf-turners against operation. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of a portion of one of the leaf-turners. Fig. 4 is a viewin rear elevation of a portion of the supporting-frame.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the supporting-frame, the same being an openat its inner end with a clamping-block 6, which serves to lock the said bolt in any desired position, the bolt being provided with a longitudinal slot 7 to permit the requisite adjustment. The upper end of the bolt is felted at 8 to prevent injury of the part with which it contacts, and its lower portion is reduced in width and works between guide-pins 9,secu red to the style. As shown in Fig.1,there are but two leaf-turners 9 associated with the frame,thisbeingsufficientfol-purpose ofillustration and will be all that is necessary for a piece of music of ordinary length; but it is to be understood that this number may be increased, if found necessary or desirable, and as this will be readily understood detailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. Each leaf-turner comprises four sections 10, 11, 12, and 13,'telescopically associated with each other to permit adjustment to fit musicleaves of different sizes. The leaf-turners are made of metal of any preferred character and, as shown in Fig. 3, are keyhole-shaped in cross-section, presenting thereby a tubular guide portion 14 and two alined spaced flanges 15. The cross-sectional contour of the leafturners herein shown is that which will generally be preferred; but they may be otherwise contoured and still be within the scope of the invention, the essential feature of the contour of each member being the provision of a recess throughout its length deep enough to furnish the required support for a sheetof music.

Through the tubular portion of the sections 11 and 12 of each leaf-turner is passed a rod 16, which in conjunction with the said tubular portion constitutes a hinge member, the terminals of the said rods being secured in plates 17 and 18, attached, respectively, to the upper and lower portions of the front .of the center style 3. Each of the tubular sections 12 is cut away for a portion of its length to expose the rods 16, and on these exposed portions are coiled springs 20, one terminal of each of which is suitably secured to the tubular portion in any preferred manner, as by being soldered or brazed thereto, the other terminal of each of the springs being secured to a collar 21, which is held from turning on the rod in any preferred manner, as by being pinned thereto. Under the arrangement Top shown when the leaf-turners are moved to the right-hand side of the supporting-frame the operating-springs 20 are placed under tension and upon release operate to throw the leaf-turners to the left-hand side of the supporting frame, and thereby present a fresh page to view.

As a means for holding the leaf-turners in operative position with relation to the supporting-frame and against the stress of the springs suitable locking mechanism is employed, comprising two vertically-disposed spring-pressed catches 22 and 23, which are housed within a casing 24, secured to the lower style of the right-hand side of the supporting-frame. The outer face of the upper end of these catches are rounded to permit the leaf-turners to be broughtv into locked engagement therewith without the necessity of manual operation, and in order to retract the catches, thus to release the turners, each catch is provided at its lower end with an outturned finger-piece 25, the two being disposed in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 1, thus to obviate the danger of releasing both at one time. Each catch is also provided on its inner edge with a recess 26 to be engaged by the sections 13' when the turners are in operative position, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. It will be observed that the upper end of the catch 22 is disposed below that of the catch 23 and is thus out of the path of movement of the succeeding leaf-turner when it is released.

To permit insertion of the leaves of music between the opposed flanges 15 of the members of the leaf-turners, the inner ends of the horizontal members of each turner adjacent to the center style are curved outward, as shown at 27.

In the operation of the device the leaves of the music are inserted between the flanges of the members of the leaf-turners, and these are then moved back against the right-hand side of the frame and are held there by the catches 26. As soon as the first page is completed the operator draws down the latch 22, and thus releases the first leaf-turner, presenting thereby two fresh sheets of music to view, and when these are finished the remaining leaf-turner is released, thereby exposing the fourth sheet of music to view.

As before pointed out, the number of leafturners may be increased up to as many as may be desired, and for this reason it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the employment of two, as shown.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by ,Lettors Patent, is

1. A device of the character specified, comprising a supporting-frame, and a plurality of spring-actuated leafturners associated therewith and disposed in longitudinally-recessed telescopic sections adapted to receive the edges of the sheets of music.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a supporting-frame and a plurality of spring-actuated rectangular leaf-turners associated therewith, each turner being composed of a plurality of longitudinally-recessed telescopic sections disposed to permit vertical and longitudinal adjustment.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising a supportingframe provided with locking means for associating it with a suitable support, a plurality of spring-actuated rectangular leaf-turners associated with the support and comprising each a plurality of longitudinally recessed telescopic sections disposed to permit vertical and longitudinal adjustment, and means associated with the supporting-frame for holding the said turners folded thereagainst and forreleasing them consecutively when desired.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GERMAN MEZIERE.

Witnesses:

H. P. MEZIERE, F. A. IVIEZIERE. 

